How influenza A spreads through the body and into the air
Virology and aerosol science of IAV infection, explusion and transmission
['FUNDING_P01'] · EMORY UNIVERSITY · NIH-11323040
Researchers will intentionally expose healthy volunteers to influenza A in a controlled setting to track where the virus appears in the body and how infected people release it into the air.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_P01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | EMORY UNIVERSITY (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (ATLANTA, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11323040 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
If you join, researchers will intentionally expose healthy volunteers to influenza A under close medical supervision. They will collect samples from different body sites (for example nose and throat) and capture air/aerosol samples while you breathe, talk, or cough to measure virus release. Lab tests will quantify infectious virus and sequence viral variants over time to map shedding and environmental expulsion. The aim is to learn when and how people are most likely to spread flu so prevention methods can be improved.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are healthy adults who can safely undergo controlled flu exposure and agree to clinic-based monitoring and repeated sample collection.
Not a fit: People at high risk for severe influenza (young children, pregnant people, older adults, or those who are immunocompromised) would not be eligible and are unlikely to benefit directly from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Results could lead to clearer guidance on masks, ventilation, timing of antivirals, and isolation practices to reduce flu spread.
How similar studies have performed: Human influenza challenge studies have previously shown viral shedding and infectious virus in exhaled air, but the detailed comparison of different transmission routes in humans remains relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
ATLANTA, UNITED STATES
- EMORY UNIVERSITY — ATLANTA, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: LAKDAWALA, SEEMA S. — EMORY UNIVERSITY
- Study coordinator: LAKDAWALA, SEEMA S.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.